the chinese elm that just wont die

[Dorky_gearhead]

I collected this elm a few years back and its seen its fair share of dry soil. the last time it dried out was when my mother in law needed surgery and me and my wife went to help take care of her daycare kids. my elm is in regular port soil for now, so it's all to go a few days without watering. we were only supposed to be there for 4 days, but it wound up being 9 days. when we got him I checked on the elm, and all of the leaves were crispy. I watered it and placed it in some shade while it recovers.

considering I did a huge trunk chop about a month before it dried out, should i be concerned about it making it through the winter?

 

[Cristian D.]

I think you should protect it from freezing, if that could happen in your location.
It has an interesting shape, what are your plans for it?
Good luck with it!

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Elms are pretty tough. Probably won't need much in the way of protection. Set it on the ground in the shade.

By the way, if you collected it from a spot where it seeded itself. The bark says it is probably not Chinese elm. It could be Siberian elm, Ulmus pumila, a common invasive species. Or it could be one of the other invasive weedy elms, or it could be one of the native elms. My guess would be Siberian elm. Not that it really matters. If I'm right it is super cold hardy, and intolerant of being in the shade for the growing season.

 

[Dorky_gearhead]

Cristian, it hardly ever freezes here, but i will bring it in on the nights that it dies freeze. I dont have a style in mind, but its going to be small. im thinking 10-12 inches. im debating about keeping a little bit of dead wood. the humidity is pretty low here so in theory dead wood wouldnt rot out very fast.